Entrevue Isa More
30 Octobre 2014

Privateer profiles: 
Luke  812 and Matt VonLinger 

IM: Hi guys! I am just curious to know how a non-factory team can survive in the SX jungle! Are you a real privateer or a factory supported privateer? Can I call you the working-class heroes of supercross?

MVL: yes definitely a privateer. We have great sponsors and support but nothing compared to the factory teams. We have to sacrifice and work hard each week to make it to the next race. I recently just got married so I have to provide for my wife also.

LVL: I'm a real privateer. I have good sponsors who help me out and my parents pay for everything.


IM: Do you just ride the bike that you bought? Do you build your bike from aftermarket parts, not having the benefits of the 'Factory Team'? How do you do whenever there is a problem or an adjustment needs to be made? Do you have a budget for mechanics salaries?

LVL: Well I ride for a local shop here in KY and they hook me up with a bike. Honda of Richmond. My dad works on bikes for a living so anything that needs to be done he can do for me. I get my motor and suspension done by Tom Zont Racing.

MVL: Honda of Richmond in Kentucky helps us with bikes and have been a huge help to our program. Team Gus set up at every race is super professional looking. Also we have Tom Zont building us the best bikes possible for a privateer. Other than that its pretty much bolt on parts. No factory parts or mechanics. Luke and I share one mechanic my dad. The budget is tight to go racing so room for mechanics.



IM: Are you only surviving relying on purse money from your sponsors and on some AMA racing money to pay the shot for a season? Is it true that if you make the main, you can make decent money? Can you also count on contingency money? (to our readers, contingency money is money that is paid to the rider by the manufacturer for using their bikes in a specific race).

MVL: My brother works a full time job and we have a training business VBMX Schools. I train kids everyday. If we relied on the Ama we would starve. The main pays descent but if your not doing really well your lucky to break even. They also changed the contingency rules where you have to place so well its really tough to make money that way. 7 or 8 years ago you could make money in this sport now its just survival.


LVL: No not at all if that was the case, I wouldn't make it very far they don't pay too well. I mean if you make the main you can make a little more but nothing worth bragging about. You have to make the main or get top 20 for contingency money.


IM: How do AMA Nationals pay comparing to AMA Supercross?

MVL: $230 for the night show in lites. $220 a moto in outdoors. The money increases the better you place obviously.

LVL: They pay per moto so it's all depending on how you do which is the same as SX but once again it's nothing to brag about.


IM: What do you think about the gap from what 5th makes to what 15th makes?

MVL: lites sx i would say 500 bucks just guessing.

LVL: Confidence and Commitment. You have to believe in yourself and what you're doing and have fun.


IM: What about any bad luck throughout the season due to mechanical failure or injury?

LVL: My bikes been good other than one round of outdoors. Also no injuries this past season so that was fortunate. I've been there and had my fair share of injuries. 

MVL: Our bikes are always well taken care of mechanically but injury is rough. Can't ride or make any money at all.

IM:Do you believe that privateers would benefit from forming a union?

MVL: I believe privateers should race free. Without privateers the gates wouldn't be near full. The race promoters cater so much to the factory guys not the guys struggling every week

LVL: I mean it could definitely help us out. We need something!


IM: Do you have a manager? What is your own training regimen?

LVL: No team manager it's just my family and I. I have a trainer, his company is called Fast Moto.

MVL: No manager we handle our own sponsors and deals. Training we road bike and mountain bike. We also have a gym sponsorship with Precision Fitness that helps to keep us in shape. The winter for SX is hard its cold and we have to drive so many hours for each round.


IM: How far can you go for the love of racing?

MVL: We have made it pretty far. At some point you have to realize your doing this because you love riding dirtbikes. Im grateful for everything I have and all my family has made happen for us.

LVL: I've raced since I was 4 and I don't see myself slowing down unless I'm forced to do so. 


IM: What are you missing both of you to get picked up by a factory?

LVL: It's a small window of opportunity you've gotta be in to make it. 

MVL: Results for sure. I have a lot of respect for all those guys. They go fast but at the same time they have every resource possible to do it.


IM: What is your ultimate goal?

LVL: Just have fun and ride my Dirtbike!

MVL: Just keep having fun riding dirtbikes and traveling. I want to help all my kids I train to make it in this sport. I've been through it all so I want to see them succeed.
 

Anyone you would like to thank:
Kentucky Motorsports and Outdoors, TomZont Racing, Shift, Fox, Dragon, GoPro, Atlas Brace, 6dHelmets, MotoHose, Yoshimura, Vertex, Hotcams, Works Connection, Novik Gloves, PRL, Cyrca, 139 Designs, VBMX Schools, Buddy Brooks, Power and Panel Concepts, Guts racing, Union clothing, Team Gus, Hinson, Moto Stuff, Shades of Gray, Kc Floyd, Matt Rankin, My wife Johna. My family.


We wish you the best;)))
We support our VonLiger riders!
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